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pititrs tat're aztrnt @fitta .IHN P. BIRCH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR '10 HIMSELF AND GEORGE W. PATERSON, OF NEWBURYPORT, MASSACHUSETTS..

Letters Patent No.' 66,671, dated 16, 1867.

.IMPROVEMENT 1N ROTARY PUMPS.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.:

Be it known that I, JOHN P. BIRCH, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsyl` vania., have invented certain new and useful improvements in Rotary Pumps; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- A .Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section, and

Figure 2 represents a transverse `Jertical section f a pump constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figures 3 and 4 represent a front and a side elevation of one of thepistons removed from thevpump.

The pump in which my invention isillustrated is a rotary-water-pump, in which the pistons or buckets, while placed within .and moving in nisonwiththe pistou case or drum, nevertheless revolve eccentrically with respect to the said piston-case. Under this arrangement the pistons will not of course always maintain the same position in the case, which-cduhl only happen when the centres of motionoi` the two were identical and the same, but as they lrevolve they will be alternately and successively projected from vand withdrawn within the case. -'.lhe pistons and their drum are placed within a'cylinder, where the former `are mounted in one end of and concentrically with the interior of the cylinder, and the latter is mounted in the opposite end of and eccenrtrically to the same; and location of the piston-case is* such that the pistons or buckets, as they approach fthe nozzle or orifice fromwhich the water is discharged, are gradually Withdrawn within the case, thus allowing free passage for the water, and as they approach the induction side of the cylinder they are igradually thrust from the case into the water, which they conduct to the ejccting-nozzle. Y

To enable others skilled-in the'art to understand and use my invention, will now proceed to describe the mnner in which the same is or-may be carried into effect by reference to the accompanying drawings.

The pistonsa'nd piston-ease are containcdwithin a cylinder, A, provided with two nozzles or pipes, the one, a, being the supply'or induction, and the other, b, the ejection or discharge-nozzle. At the points where the nozzles connect with the cylinder, the interior of the cylinder is enlarged so as to form chambers into and from which the water may be readily drawn and discharged. The direction of the ejection pipe Ab, at the point where it leaves the cylinder, is that of a line tangent to the inner surface of the cylinder, so that the water is discharged by the pistons without any change of direction, and thus retains all the momentum which it has received from the pistons. This is a valuable featureof the pump, and one which peculiarly adapts it for use with a re engine, where the greatest possible momentum is required. In one head of and eccentrically to the interior of the cylinder, the hollow piston-casc B is mounted, through the sides and end of :which a series of slots or passages is formed, equal in number tothe pistons employed. The stem vor shaft c, upon which the case is held, passes out through the head of the cylinder and carricsa crank or handle, d, by means of which the' case is rotated. The shaft c may also receive motion hy means of any other suitable mechanism, from any motor, whether-steam, water, orother power. The pistons whose revolution causes the water to iiow from the discharge orifice b, consist each of a bucket or piston proper, C, and a disk or plate, D, the end of the bucket being attached to the periphery of the disk,'and in such manner that the planes in which the two lie shall be transverse or at angles to one another. The pistons are placed together in' pairs, and so that the buckets of each pair shall t in the slots in the piston-case diametrically opposite each other. Thus the pistons C C,

tig. 1, constitute one pair, and the pistonsCiC another pair. The interior opposite faces of the disks D of l each pairare grooved and tongued concentrically, as shown in iig. 2, so as to admit of the movement of the pistons, and yet hold the disks together. Ths'construction and arrangement of the pistons is productive of great advantages. The disks support and 4steady theA buckets or pistons proper, while the concentric tongues and grooves, formed upon the contiguous faces of each pair, allow the pistons to adjust themselves readily to vtheir constant change of position with relation to thepiston-casm4 The pistons, although placed within and actuated by the piston-case, do not movc'concentrically therewith; on the contrary, they revolve around a rod or pin, E, attached immovably to the further head of the cylinder A, and at its cen'tre, measuring from the two opposite concentric inner surfaces of the same. The pin, therefore, which extends into the piston-case, and con,- sequently the pistons which it holds in'position, are eccentric with respect to the piston-ease, as shown clearly in iig. 2. The pistons, at the points where they pass through the slots in the pistonlcase, are supported by packing-pieces e or half rounds, which adjust themselves readily to the movement of them free play. i

The operation of the pump is as follews: When power is applied to the piston-rod e, the piston-case B is revolved in the direction of the arrows. This movement is imparted to the pistons C, which, as they approach the induction'pipe cz, are gradually thrust or projected from the piston-case, as shown in fig'. 2. The pistons, when they occupy the position shown at C C', fig. 2, are in contact with the two opposite concentric surfaces of the cylinder, the onel piston being entirely projected from and the other wholly withdrawn form thelcase. As they approach the discharge pipe b they are gradually drawn within the case, so aste give uninterrupted and free passage to the water, which is ejected in a. continuous stream, none of the momentum of which is lost, owing to the pistons and allow the position of the pipe or nozzle 'with relation -to the interior surface of the cylinder.' t

When the pump is to be used in a place Where it is required to be submerged, thefpiston-rod may ble operated by connecting it to a shaft and crank located above the surface of the water, and actuated by steam or other power, as desired. Theplay of the pistons through the slots or openings in the pistoncase is facilie tated by the packing-pieces 'or half rounds which support them, and admit of their adapting themselves to various positions, and-to project at diierent angles from the case. Owing te the construction ot' the pistons and the manner' of uniting` them together, each one can move independently of the other, in. order to adjustv` itself to thevvarying form of the cylinder7 and they all, while receiving motion, from the piston-case, revolve -independently of and eccentrically to the same. y

Having now described my invention, and the manner in which the saine is or may be carried into effect, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 4 The combination, with the eccentric piston-case and central pin or spindle, mounted in opposite ends of the pump-case, of the pistons or buckets and their grooved and tongued supporting disks, mounted on said spindle, and within the piston-ease, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof Ifhave signed my name to this specification before two subscribing witnesses.

' JOHN P. BIRCH. Witnesses:

J. R. MAssEr, JAMES BUTLER. 

